Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master

Chapter 1607: Chapter 674: I Want You All to Submit

The other forces on Flowing Cloud Peak were also discussing.

"Sun Raising Yang Locking Cloud Altar, the Territorial Expansion Alliance secretly managed it for so many years, and in the end, it fell into the hands of Nanming Village. It’s truly laughable."

"I watched the battle between Chun Yangzi and Liang Ming. The former specializes in the Pure Yang Technique, so the Sun Raising Yang Locking Cloud Altar should be greatly beneficial to him."

"Chun Yangzi can even break through Divine Skills; truly remarkable. I am not his equal."

"Fortunately, he is seriously injured, and without a period of rest, he definitely won’t recover. That injury was caused by a Divine Skill!"

"Alas... if we had known, it would have been better not to bother Ning Zhuo. We pinned our hopes on the Three Brave of Xiang Sect, and everyone placed their stakes, yet Ning Zhuo disappeared without a trace."

"Hasn’t he been detained for nearly seven days now? Can he get out?"

"And if he comes out, so what? I believe he publicly promised to compete with the Three Brave of Xiang Sect, but the Five Battles Martial Arts has already ended, and Ning Zhuo’s competition is irrelevant to the overall situation."

Heavy Array Peak.

Deep within the grand hall at the peak, Dong Chen sat at the principal seat.

Yin Changgeng stood below, slightly bowing his head, holding a long box with both hands.

Inside the box, the Heaven-reaching Hook lay quietly.

Dong Chen glanced at it, his eyes finally relaxing a bit: "It’s good that it’s been recovered."

Yin Changgeng showed a look of shame: "I am derelict in my duty; I chose Liang Ming, yet he still lost. Although we’ve now recovered the Taoist Artifact Heaven-reaching Hook, Liang Ming is also ruined. Chun Yangzi is seriously injured, Yang Fish is severely damaged, and Nanming Village has already become the new master of the Sun Raising Yang Locking Cloud Altar. What steps should we take next?"

He did not mention The Humbleheart Broken-Blade Guard. In the eyes of a Nascent Soul Cultivator, this Golden Core Mechanical Creation, which blocked the final aftershock of the Taoist Artifact for Chun Yangzi, was utterly worth it even if destroyed.

Dong Chen’s fingers tapped lightly on the array table, making a very soft thumping sound: "Nanming Village will surely need to construct a protective Great Array to establish themselves on the Sun Raising Yang Locking Cloud Altar. I’m concerned they might probe too deeply and uncover our secret operations."

He pondered for a moment: "Send someone to secretly infiltrate underground, keeping close watch to ensure our secret operations are well-concealed. If discovered, instruct the stationed cultivator to immediately take action to sabotage it, leaving behind no evidence or clues."

Yin Changgeng clasped his fists: "Yes, Peak Master!"

Dong Chen slightly changed his tone: "Moreover, Nanming Village’s successful ascension to the altar is a foregone conclusion. This village is special, newly established, and it’s relatively easy to intervene. Dispatch several teams proactively to join the village and become internal spies."

Chun Yangzi’s victory over Liang Ming changed Dong Chen’s outlook on Nanming Village, shifting from prior suppression to now forging alliances and infiltrating.

On Danxia Peak, clouds of Dan Cloud like rosy clouds, and the pill rooms along the mountainside exuded a gentle medicinal fragrance.

Wang Yu stood in front of the high platform.

Draped in a Clouds and Mist Daoist Robe, his demeanor was elegant, calm, and composed.

An aide stood behind him, having just reported the intelligence from the Five Battles Martial Arts.

The aide said: "Peak Master, Nanming Village is currently in the limelight. Chun Yangzi’s prestige has soared, and the Nine Fire Dragon Lord, Tan Zhu, and Tu Yuanzi have also forcefully taken over the Sun Raising Yang Locking Cloud Altar."

Wang Yu: "Nanming Village gaining the Sun Raising Yang Locking Cloud Altar is preferable to White Cloud Village, far better than the Territorial Expansion Alliance."

"Send a secret message instructing Tan Zhu to investigate underground, striving to find traces and evidence related to Heavy Array Peak."

The aide: "Understood, I will arrange it immediately."

Wang Yu waved his horsetail whisk, speaking softly: "Oh, also deploy two more teams to enter the village. Now is an opportune time."

Although Tan Zhu had successfully integrated into the upper echelons of Nanming Village, time was not in his favor.

Wang Yu had already begun planning for subsequent spy replacements.

Artifact Refining Hall.

With a thud from Tie Kuang’s hammer, the nearby disciples’ eardrums tingled.

"Understand?" Tie Kuang was instructing when a Flying Message arrived.

"Chun Yangzi won?" Tie Kuang read the message, grinned, teeth gleaming in the furnace light, "Didn’t think this old fellow still had such skills."

Tie Kuang contemplated the situation: "With this, there’s no need for Ning Zhuo to come out."

"The Humbleheart Broken-Blade Guard blocked the Heaven-reaching Hook?" Lu Ban murmured, a look of fascination on his face, "The Empty Valley Sound Green Mechanism Tube lineage’s mechanisms, to exert some effect at that level, quite interesting indeed."

Upon hearing the news, Che Zhuzi first froze, then slapped his thigh.

"Hey, Ning Zhuo really managed this big affair!"

"Nanming Village genuinely succeeded in ascending to the peak."

Che Zhuzi’s eyes flashed with excitement, unable to sit still, immediately rising: "I need to prepare a gift quickly, to congratulate them. The Sun Raising Yang Locking Cloud Altar is in need of everything. Whatever they lack, we’ll sell. Prices can always be discussed; the key is to establish goodwill first."

Previously, during the battle between Ning Zhuo and the Three Brave of Xiang Sect, it was turbulent, making it difficult for anyone to be optimistic.

Che Zhuzi remained neutral, made no stand.

Now, with Nanming Village succeeding, as a businessman, Che Zhuzi loves to provide the icing on the cake!

...

The Wanxiang Sect’s Main Mountain Gate was abuzz with discussions on this battle, night and day.

"Chun Yangzi managed to fight to this stage!"

"Liang Ming was surely the strongest hidden card of the Territorial Expansion Alliance. He mastered the Seven Gui Sacrifice, such a Divine Skill, and yet, he lost."

"Chun Yangzi’s victory is a narrow victory, at best."

"Ning Zhuo is unreliable; I had been looking forward to his battle with the Three Brave of Xiang Sect. I was curious about the extent of this young prodigy’s skills. But he didn’t even make it through this small trial, truly disappointing."

"Five Battles Martial Arts, Chun Yangzi fought twice and won both. Nanming Village could successfully assault the peak, thanks to him as the primary contributor. Ning Zhuo? Famous, but not much help."

These discussions were like rolling clouds, repeatedly crashing between the peaks.

A day and a night passed, and the first batch of Nanming Village flags had been hoisted on the Sun Raising Yang Locking Cloud Altar.

The arrangement of these array flags was intricate, provided by Shen Xi, and could temporarily guard the surroundings, allowing Nanming Village to construct the Great Array more leisurely.

At dawn, sunlight spread from the end of the sea of clouds, casting red gold brilliance onto the Locking Yang Well, where the three-color swirl at the bottom emitted a faint glow.

Chun Yangzi arrived.

He came riding on clouds, his face still pale.

His Daoist robe had been changed, unable to hide the black-green Gui marks on his body. The wound on his forehead still had a thin red line, like undried vermillion.

Both of his fingers were wrapped in white bandages, faintly seeping with blood underneath.

The Nine Fire Dragon Lord, Tan Zhu, and Tu Yuanzi were all in the altar, ready to greet him immediately.

Nine Fire Dragon Lord raised his eyebrows with a smile, "Chun Yangzi, you’re in this state, yet still come for inspection?"

His attitude towards Chun Yangzi had changed; though joking, his respect was evident. After all, in the Five Battles Martial Arts, Nine Fire Dragon Lord was entrusted with high hopes by Chun Yangzi but ended up losing.

Tu Yuanzi cupped his fist and said, "Great Village Chief, this battle was hard on you."

Tan Zhu did not speak, nodding towards Chun Yangzi. The latter had not fallen into his schemes, winning solely with his combative power, leaving Tan Zhu with not much to say.

Chun Yangzi squinted slightly, the pain still lingering on his body, but a sense of indescribable contentment rose within him.

He could clearly feel the subtle shift in attitude from the three Nascent Soul cultivators before him.

The moment his foot touched the altar surface, Chun Yangzi felt a warmth surge through his boot.

"This is the Sun Raising Yang Locking Cloud Altar."

"This is my Divinity Transformation opportunity!"

He was secretly excited, beginning his inspection. First reviewing the Locking Yang Well, followed by the Cloud Ring on the altar waist, next the Fire Vein at the bottom of the altar, and finally the foundation of the Great Array being busily constructed by the Nanming Village cultivators.

During this, Shen Xi, Situ Xing, Lin Jinglong, Mu Yuehua, and others came to pay their respects, addressing him as Great Village Chief.

Everyone knew that winning the Five Battles Martial Arts, Chun Yangzi was a great contributor!

All would benefit because of this and naturally remembered Chun Yangzi’s favor!

This was prestige.

Chun Yangzi scanned around, his gaze slightly cold, "Ning Zhuo hasn’t come out yet?"

Someone suggested, "The seven-day deadline has passed, but Daoist Fellow Ning Zhuo is still in the Xingyun Trial. Great Village Chief, should we ride the wave of victory to force Tie Kuang to release him?"

Chun Yangzi snorted coldly in his heart.

"Under the True Words Bell, this is originally Ning Zhuo’s well-arranged play."

"He appears to be detained, but in fact, he avoided the Three Brave of Xiang Sect. Admitting fault to save face, returning sponsorship to win hearts, borrowing my Pure Yang Ancestor Master Pill, also lent me The Humbleheart Broken-Blade Guard."

"Truly a well-planned, well-calculated arrangement."

Chun Yangzi muttered to himself.

Most outsiders couldn’t see it, but he was well-versed in the Righteous Path, having long seen the truth.

"I did most of the work, fought life and death, while Ning Zhuo was manipulating power tactics. Countering the Three Brave of Xiang Sect? He didn’t even set foot in the Martial Arts Arena and yet reaped great harvests."

"Not just wealth, but people’s hearts."

"At the critical moment, he retreated, leaving me to deal with the situation. I had no choice but to break through the obstacles under pressure."

The most unsettling thing for Chun Yangzi was that he truly had to thank Ning Zhuo. Besides The Humbleheart Broken-Blade Guard, Ning Zhuo attracted firepower and entangled the Flowing Cloud Peak’s numerous major forces with heavy sponsorship, helping Chun Yangzi "take away" the Three Brave of Xiang Sect, a tremendous help indeed.

Ning Zhuo, though staying in the background, genuinely helped Chun Yangzi, and effectively!

"Ning Zhuo, circle after circle, is precisely like the reincarnation of an Old Monster."

"For my future control of Nanming Village, he is my greatest obstacle!"

While Nine Fire Dragon Lord had fighting prowess, he was not skilled in management.

Tan Zhu, his life span nearing end, had other calculations.

Tu Yuanzi’s foundation was enigmatic; though not participating in the battle, it was clear—his combat power surely lacking!

Chun Yangzi, after so much effort, finally gained control of the Sun Raising Yang Locking Cloud Altar. This was the Divinity Transformation opportunity; he absolutely must not let Nanming Village fall under someone else’s control!

"External enemies are temporarily delayed, now it’s time to eliminate dissonance within!"

"By the way, the Pure Yang Ancestor Master Pill is still in Ning Zhuo’s hands, must retrieve it immediately!"

Chun Yangzi worried that Ning Zhuo, through the Pure Yang Ancestor Master Pill, would greatly elevate his Yang Dao and Alchemy Dao realm, thus discerning the immense significance of the Sun Raising Yang Locking Cloud Altar to him.

"Only these seven days, Ning Zhuo cannot break the secret here. But he must have improved dramatically in Yang Dao."

"Haha, this is precisely my plan—to let him taste the sweetness."

"With enough sweetness, reinforced with power, I doubt he won’t submit to me!"

"Now this Sun Raising Yang Locking Cloud Altar is under my feet. In the future, Nanming Village, including you, Ning Zhuo, all must submit!"